The American Center for Philanthropy Inc
The American Center for Philanthropy (ACP) is a public charity based in Northfield, Minnesota. Established in 2001, it promotes philanthropy by providing individuals with ways to carry out their charitable objectives through donor-advised funds.
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc at a glance
In short: The American Center for Philanthropy Inc gave $6.8M across 103 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), mostly in Minnesota. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,804,873
- +51.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 103
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $66,067
- +66.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,250
- Total assets
- $40,834,964
- -1.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (25 of 103, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The American Center for Philanthropy Inc
- How to Apply
-
ACP accepts grant requests through its online portal or a printable nomination form. Grant recommendations are subject to ACP Board approval. Recommendations must be at least $250 per organization, unless the account balance is less. Eligible recipients are qualified U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable organizations or qualifying U.S., state, or local government organizations. ACP will not approve grants directed to foreign organizations unless they have a domestic affiliate, grants fulfilling a donor’s pre-existing pledge, grants providing private benefit, grants supporting lobbying or political activity, or grants for purposes that are not entirely charitable. Approved grants are generally processed and received by the grantee within two weeks.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11 Bridge Square 200, Northfield, MN 55057
Phone: (507) 321-4027
Website: https://americancp.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The American Center for Philanthropy Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northfield Shares ($2.2M). Together the top 10 received $5.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
604 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 530 grants of 604 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In the 2024 itemized grant data, Minnesota received 56% of grant dollars, Florida 34%, South Carolina 4%, Wisconsin 1%, and the District of Columbia 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 103 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The American Center for Philanthropy Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 103 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $83K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2021) to $6.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 103 grants totaling $6.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northfield Shares Northfield, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $2,183,949 |
| Schwab Charitable Orlando, FL | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $2,111,600 |
| Central Carolina Community Foundation Columbia, SC | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $296,317 |
| Hamline University St. Paul, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $161,774 |
| Christ Community Naples Naples, FL | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $130,000 |
| Saint Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation Wabasha, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $120,163 |
| Hastings Public Schools Hastings, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $88,595 |
| Macalester College St. Paul, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $86,709 |
| St Philips Lutheran Church Hastings, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $75,500 |
| St John's Lutheran Church Northfield, MN | Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes | $75,427 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing states that ACP paid Carlson Capital Management for investment advisory and administrative services. It also states that a board member was a shareholder of the firm and that Gregory Carlson owned more than 35% of it.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,834,964 | $9,662,924 | $7,461,735 | $6,804,873 | 103 | $5,013,978 |
| 2023 | $41,244,300 | $5,365,464 | $5,316,889 | $4,498,176 | 113 | $2,121,876 |
| 2022 | $38,246,702 | $8,948,755 | $3,919,915 | $3,049,332 | 130 | $1,211,625 |
| 2021 | $38,336,369 | $9,301,432 | $3,671,744 | $2,701,042 | 131 | $5,864,027 |
| 2020 | $33,669,317 | $5,032,403 | $4,439,429 | $3,438,386 | 127 | $1,444,399 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ACP’s stated mission is to promote philanthropy by providing effective, efficient, and flexible means for individuals to carry out their personal charitable objectives using donor-advised funds. Its broader goals include helping donors and financial professionals plan charitable giving and partnering with nonprofits on philanthropic fundraising.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. Northfield Shares, which received $2,183,949, says it works to sustain and transform the Northfield community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and collaborative leadership. Macalester College, which received $86,709, describes its mission as a liberal arts education emphasizing scholarship, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, which received $35,000, says it works to improve cardiovascular health through research and education. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not ACP’s.
Grantmaking
ACP’s 2024 filing reports 652 grants to charitable organizations.
The largest itemized grants included Northfield Shares ($2,183,949), Schwab Charitable ($2,111,600), Central Carolina Community Foundation ($296,317), Hamline University ($161,774), and Christ Community Naples ($130,000). Other listed recipients included Saint Elizabeth’s Community Development Foundation ($120,163), Hastings Public Schools ($88,595), Macalester College ($86,709), St Philips Lutheran Church ($75,500), and St John’s Lutheran Church ($75,427).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gregory A. Carlson as president, Richard Estenson as treasurer, and Arthur Monaghan as secretary. It lists Blake Abdella, Andy Hauskins, and Jim Weinzettel as board members.
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc is led by Gregory A. Carlson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gregory A. Carlson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Monaghan
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blake Abdella
Board Member
Secretary → Co-Secretary, 2021
Co-Secretary → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Estenson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andy Hauskins
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Weinzettel
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Matthew Rich (2020–2021) — Board Member- to
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The American Center for Philanthropy Inc
How much does The American Center for Philanthropy Inc give each year?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc gave $6.8M across 103 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.5M across 113 grants.
What is The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's typical grant size?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's median grant in 2024 was $13,250, and its average grant was $66,067, across 103 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The American Center for Philanthropy Inc that year got $12K on average.
Where does The American Center for Philanthropy Inc give grants?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Northfield, MN (11 grants), St. Paul, MN (11 grants), Hastings, MN (9 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (9 grants).
Does The American Center for Philanthropy Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 103 grants with a stated purpose on The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Multiple Grants for Multiple Purposes" (103 grants).
Who are The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's largest grantees?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Northfield Shares ($2,183,949), Schwab Charitable ($2,111,600) and Central Carolina Community Foundation ($296,317), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The American Center for Philanthropy Inc?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc reported $40.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.7M.
What does The American Center for Philanthropy Inc fund?
ACP’s stated mission is to promote philanthropy by providing effective, efficient, and flexible means for individuals to carry out their personal charitable objectives using donor-advised funds. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The American Center for Philanthropy Inc?
ACP accepts grant requests through its online portal or a printable nomination form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's EIN?
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2010078. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The American Center for Philanthropy Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The American Center for Philanthropy Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-american-center-for-philanthropy-inc-morg_6267a5c48cf94e5b9ffcbe2712a832b2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_412010078_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The American Center for Philanthropy Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-american-center-for-philanthropy-inc-morg_6267a5c48cf94e5b9ffcbe2712a832b2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The American Center for Philanthropy Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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